Funny and Fascinating Animals!

Funny and Fascinating Animals! is a colorful and exciting picture book for the youngest readers with lots of interesting facts about wild animals. Released 1st March 2022 by CrackBoom! Books, it's 64 pages and is available in hardcover format. 

This is an exuberantly colorful fact-filled book with an engaging format. Double page spreads are written around different features or behaviors for different animals. The chapter headings ask "whose tongue is this?", "whose favorite foods", "whose droppings", "whose tracks", and more. After reading the simple text and looking at the 2 first page illustrations, and guessing which tongue belongs to which animal, readers can turn the page and get explanations with the full picture on the next 2 page spread.

It's a clever outlay and the pictures are fun and energetically appealing. This would make a super library or classroom book as well as for gift giving. This would also be a good book for caregivers to spend time reading and interacting with their young children. There are both well known animals like cats and giraffes as well as more esoteric choices such as tarsiers and pacu. 

Five stars. I love nonfiction books for kids and this one is well written and illustrated and information rich. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes. 

Abandoned Islands

Abandoned Islands is a photographic tour of some iconic abandoned and uninhabited islands, written and curated by travel author Claudia Martin. Due out 10th May 2022 from Amber Books, it's 224 pages and will be available in hardcover format. 

This book was a wonderful surprise for me.  I was expecting photographs of wild and overgrown places but there was so much more.  The book is filled with beautiful photography and lovely background  descriptions. They are all island locations both large and small. Each of the entries contains one or more colour photos as well as interesting tidbits of background history. There were only a few with which I was previously familiar, Pollepel Island for example, which was for sale to the public not too long ago.

There is such a richness to this book. The islands which are included are arranged in the book grouped geographically: North & South America, Europe, Middle East & Africa, and Asia & the Pacific. The photography is rich and varied.  The scenery is beautiful.  I can certainly see this book becoming a display/coffee table book for the photography, but the is also captivating.

Lovely. This would be a good choice for public or school library acquisition, for fans of travel writing, and for readers who enjoy beautiful books for display.

Four stars (and it fills me with wanderlust to go visit some of these places).

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.  

Men with the Pot Cookbook: Delicious Grilled Meats and Forest Feasts

Men with the Pot Cookbook is a tutorial guide with recipes developed and curated by the MenWithThePot, Kris Szymanski and Slawek Kalkraut. Due out 17th May 2022 from Quarto on their Harvard Common Press imprint, it's 208 pages and will be available in hardcover and ebook formats. 

This is a comprehensive and surprisingly varied field guide to cooking outdoors, both for camping and RV styles of al fresco dining. The book has a casual friendly vibe and the writing is easy to understand, lightly humorous in places, and is solidly competent in terms of food safety and aesthetic appeal. My experiences of cooking while camping have mostly amounted to jabbing hot dogs and marshmallows onto pointy sticks when I was a kid and waving them around in an open fire. This is quite a step up from that.

The introduction includes a how-to guide to using the book and some (very short) basic tutorials on flavorings, spices, and some intriguing bushcraft tips on using found resources to build cooking stands and tools. The following chapters contain the recipes grouped thematically: world cuisine (Italian, Eastern European, Asian, fusion (African/Asian/Western European - really creative mashup)), meats, poultry, baking (!), seafood, hand-held meals (burgers, sandwiches, tacos, quesadillas). 

Recipes include an introduction and background, bullet lists of ingredients with measurements in both imperial/American and standard/metric (yay!), followed by concise step-by-step instructions. The photography throughout is very high quality, clear, and in color. Tutorial photos are taken without hands or obstructions in the way and are easy to understand. One slightly odd aspect with the photography. Action shot with the authors are all posed so their faces are turned away or hidden. They say in their introduction that their purpose with the videos (they're *HUGE* on TikTok and other social media) was to concentrate on the food and not themselves and I suppose that carries over into the book aesthetic as well.

The recipes are varied and tasty. What lifted this book out of the ordinary to me were the highlighted text bars scattered throughout with short "Forest Hacks" and also the amazingly creative small tutorials for using natural found materials to make varied utensils and tools such as a pasta noodle drying rack and gnocchi board. Really cool stuff. 

According to their own press, they're two Polish guys living in Northern Ireland and spending more time cooking outdoors than they spend indoors, but the food and tips here are anything but ordinary. This would make a great selection for public or school library acquisition, scouting/camping groups, or a super welcome gift for RV/camping friends. 

Five stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Knit or Dye Trying (A Riverbank Knitting Mystery #2)

Knit or Dye Trying is the second Riverbank Knitting cozy by Allie Pleiter. Released 5th April 2022 by Penguin Random House on their Berkley imprint, it's 304 pages and is available in mass market paperback, audiobook, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats, it makes it so easy to find info with the search function if needed.

This is the second book in this well written and charming small-town shopfront cozy. Protagonist Libby has a lot on her plate. She's on the scene to help facilitate the town's food and fiber festival, run for president of the chamber of commerce, find her way forward with her old high school flame to friendship or something else, and investigate vandalism and murder.

Thematically there's a lot of yarn shop and fibrearts terminology and tie-ins. This is a nice one for readers who enjoy knitting/crochet and can't resist lovely yarns. Although it's the second book in the series, the mystery is self contained and it worked well as a standalone. As with lots of shopfront cozies, this one contains "recipes" for cotton washcloths in complementary colors in the back of the book. 

It's a diverting read. Recommended for fans of light cozies. The language is squeaky clean. There is some mention of faith/God/and prayer, but it's not intrusive or proselytizing. 

Four stars. Enjoyable and well written. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Containers in the Garden

Containers in the Garden is a well written inspirational gardening guide to using container plantings by Claus Dalby. Due out 12th April 2022 from Quarto on their Cool Springs Press imprint, it's 176 pages and will be available in hardcover and ebook formats. 

The short tutorial entries are arranged roughly chronologically throughout the gardener's year. Tasks and displays are listed with very general time frames and advice is given with reference to the reader's own climate and yearly calendar. Since this book is about planting in containers, there's a lot of flexibility in timeline by using suitable pots in the greenhouse or indoors and then moving to a display area in the garden when the weather and temps are cooperative. 

The author is well known for large lush groupings of containers with riotously blended colors and forms. This book is an ode to that grand style with *masses* of bulbs, perennials, and other plants cheek to cheek in stairsteps on risers, and massed groups. 

Most of his containers are terra-cotta, and he discusses this in the text. It's a classic and stylish choice and allows the plants to take center stage.

There isn't a lot of very specific step-by-step tutorial information here. There's also not an overabundance of specific cultivar info. What it does provide is a fantastic and well curated cover to cover album of photo inspiration. In a lot of ways, these groupings struck me more as bouquets on a grand scale with very long lasting, movable, elements. It's more a flower arranging album than an actual gardening how-to book, and it's a niche with very few competitors. This is a wonderful book of inspiration. 

Four and a half stars. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

That Noodle Life: Soulful, Savory, Spicy, Slurpy

That Noodle Life is an exuberant celebration of all things noodle with lots of recipes curated and written by Mike & Stephanie Le. Due out 12th April 2022 from Workman Publishing, it's 272 pages and will be available in hardcover and ebook formats. 

I loved the upbeat vibe of this cookbook along with the very logical easy to understand layout - and the practical tips for noodle uses and how to substitute different types of noodles in recipes. Despite the Asian themed cover photo, this book isn't just Asian noodles. World cuisines are represented including Italian, North American, and (of course) a range of Asian themed dishes.

Recipes contain a description and introduction, bullet lists of ingredients (measurements are given in imperial/American units), followed by step-by-step instructions. Nearly all the recipes are photographed and illustrations are attractively styled and appetizing. Some of the ingredients will require specialist suppliers or access to a large metropolitan area (or mail order). The content/recipes included in this book do not overlap with the recipes available on the blog. There are some thematic similarities, but this book doesn't recycle available content.

The recipes themselves are tasty and well written, but I really loved the extra chapters with tips on ingredients, supplies, and sourcing items. Photographs are accompanied by clear understandable captions which really help on ingredients labeled in another language. Tools and equipment lists are also well written and no-nonsense with items separated into essentials/must have and luxuries (nice to have but not absolutely necessary). 

Five stars. Sensible. Beautifully written. High production quality throughout.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

The Poorcraft Cookbook

The Poorcraft Cookbook is a wonderfully illustrated guide to improving food security, decreasing packaging and waste, and shopping in bulk locally on a budget. Released 29th March 2022 by Iron Circus Comics, it's 228 pages and is available in paperback and ebook/comiXology formats. 

There are three volumes in this series at this point and all are accessible, appealing, and upbeat resources for improving lifestyle, decreasing consumption, downsizing, and simplifying on a budget. This volume contains lots of tips for shopping on a budget, meal planning, vegan and vegetarian tips, and living well and simply in an urban/suburban area. 

The author/illustrator, Nero Villagallos O'Reilly (website contains mature content), writes accessibly and well about the subject. The format is told in panel format with energetic and whimsical B&W pen and ink line drawings. Most of the book is taken up with shopping (smart cooking starts in the store!), but there are a number of well illustrated recipes for soups, cocktails, staples (DIY tofu & kimchi) and a lot more.

It's not haute cuisine, it's not for fancy company or special dinners. This would be a good choice for public or school library acquisition, as well as for folks newly living on their own (students, newly fledged adults, etc) as the recipes are beginner friendly and require little in the way of exotic ingredients or tools/supplies. Many areas in the world are experiencing supply issues and gaining competence and food security has a strongly net positive benefit on our mental and physical health and well being. This is a niche book, but it's an important book.

Four stars, mostly due to lack of table of contents and index. It's possible those will be included in the release copy, but they were not indicated in the eARC provided for review.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

When the Crow's Away (Evenfall Witches B&B #2)

When the Crow's Away is the second book in the Evenfall Witches paranormal cozy series by Auralee Wallace. Released 5th April 2022 by Penguin Random House on their Berkley imprint, it's 304 pages and is available in mass market paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats, it makes it so easy to find info with the search function if needed.

I tend to fall on the slightly retro golden age british country house mystery side of the cozy subgenre. I -tend- to not seek out paranormal mysteries (although I do love ones with animals, go figure). This was a delightful surprise. I also hadn't read the first book in the series before reading this one because of tight review deadlines. The author is quite adept at providing necessary backstory without it feeling pedantic or info-dumping on unsuspecting readers. It worked well as a standalone and the climax, denouement, and resolution were satisfying and believable within the framework of the story. 

It's a small town cozy and full of the sort of quirky eccentricity for which the genre is well known. Some of the punny character names are worthy of a light eye-roll, the role of first murder victim's ghost is histrionically played by Mortimer Sweete, the candy shop man, but all in all I didn't find myself yanked out of my suspension of disbelief very often.The language is squeaky clean (G-rated) and the violence happens off-page. 

It's written in first person PoV and I was impressed with the author's ability to keep it readable and fresh and not like a laundry list of "I thought...", "I did this... and then that". It's not an easy exercise and she makes good use of the first person to drive the action in the story. I will say that the actual mystery/puzzle is quite well constructed and well above the average for the genre.

Four and a half stars. For real lovers of the paranormal cozy genre, this will be a 5 star read. Highly recommended.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Grave Reservations (The Booking Agents #1)

Grave Reservations is a promising start to a new paranormal cozy mystery series by Cherie Priest. Released 26th Oct 2021 by Simon & Schuster on their Atria imprint, it's 304 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. Paperback format due out summer 2022. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats, it makes it so easy to find info with the search function.

This is such a well written, quirky, and genuinely funny story. The main protagonist is a travel agent working in her own agency alongside her undependable unasked for sixth-sense clairvoyant talent. She gets a very strong "feeling" about one of her clients and changes his travel plans, potentially saving his life in the process when his original plane bursts into flames on the runway, without him inside it. He's a police detective and, when he returns home, convinces her to try to help him with a stalled-out cold case he's been working on. 

I liked that she has a good relationship with her best friend Niki who also helps her uncover clues and isn't afraid to drag her off for a drink or three if she's getting too wrapped up in her own head (she has some unresolved trauma from the loss of a partner some years earlier). The disparate threads entwine more closely throughout the book into a clever and satisfying denouement and resolution. Her cooperative work with police detective Grady is very well written and it's a lot of fun to read their interactions. I really really liked it a lot that there wasn't any insta-romance or foreshadowed attraction between Grady & Leda - they're colleagues at least for the present.

Four stars. The author is adept, the mystery is very well constructed, and I'm really looking forward to seeing what comes next for Leda, Niki, & Grady. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Arabiyya: Recipes from the Life of an Arab in Diaspora [A Cookbook]

 

Arabiyya is a beautifully written and curated book including recipes by Reem Assil. Due out 19th April 2022 from Penguin Random House on their Ten Speed Press imprint, it's 304 pages and will be available in hardcover and ebook formats. 

This is so much more than a cookbook. It's a story of our interconnections as human beings and the role that food plays in culture and hospitality and feeding those we love. The author is a baker and first generation Arab American. She relates her experiences growing up as a person of color in a sometimes difficult and hostile society and her career path building a connection back to the traditional foods of her grandparents and her childhood.

The introduction is touchingly personal and direct. Growing up in "deepest darkest" WVa in the 70s and early 80s, one of my best friends came to the USA during the revolution in Iran and I also experienced second hand some of the anti-Arabic sentiment she lived with every day. While Ms. Assil doesn't shy away from her honest experiences or sugar coat them, she does relate the stories in a positive way, emphasizing the grit and perseverance of her family over the sadness and trauma. 

The book also contains a wonderful selection of traditional recipes in addition to the warm personal reminiscences. The introduction covers the spices, blends, and ingredients used in Arab cooking, including some tips on sourcing difficult to find items, pantry lists, and staple bases/sauces. The following chapters contain the recipes, arranged thematically: baked goods & pastries, dinners & plates, vegetable dishes, and special occasions & drinks. 

Recipes contain an introduction and descriptions, bullet point lists of ingredients (measurements are in imperial (American) units with some metric equivalents provided), and followed by general preparation directions. Header names are given in Arabic and English. The photography throughout is beautifully clear and colorful. Serving suggestions are attractive and appetizing. Tutorial/prep photos are easy to understand and are taken without hands or utensils in the way. 

Five stars. It's a beautifully heartfelt celebration of delicious food and culture. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Ten Days in a Mad-House

Ten Days in a Mad-House is a harrowing and effective graphic novel adaptation of Nellie Bly's investigation and exposure of the inhumane and horrifying treatment of mental health patients in the late 19th century in America. Due out 19th April 2022 from Simon & Schuster on their Gallery 13 imprint, it's 160 pages and will be available in paperback/graphic novel and ebook formats. 

The text is spare and linear and the story is told quite plainly which keeps the horror of the fates of thousands of patients, many of whom were absolutely not mentally ill, in sharp and unflinching focus throughout. I was left with a sense of profound sadness and anger as well as impressed with the bravery and dedication of Ms. Bly's original exposé.

The adaptation is written by Dr. Brad Ricca who does a masterful job turning the difficult source material into a cohesive whole. He allows us to view much of the distressing reality without peeling back the façade entirely and forcing readers to face the very worst of the depredations which undoubtedly occurred. For readers who are very sensitive, there are references to suicide, murder, sexual assault, and horrifying failure of care (including implied infanticide). 

The art, by Courtney Sieh, is crisp and direct and suits the story very well. Stylistically it's mostly in panels with occasional full page frames. The text is spare and the story is told through the pen and ink line drawings. Although the subject matter is distressing, the art isn't graphic at all. 

It's an important story and the original reporting and exposé by Nellie Bly eventually resulted in sweeping changes in the care and oversight of vulnerable patients in a lot of ways. It was bravely done and I found the graphic novel enlightening. 

Four stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

City of Time and Magic (Found Things #4)

City of Time and Magic is the fourth book in the Found Things historical time travel fantasy romance series by Paula Brackston. Released 23rd Nov 2021 by Macmillan on their St. Martin's imprint, it's 320 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. Paperback format due out 4th quarter 2022. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats, it makes it so easy to find info with the search function.

The book has a complex and nuanced plot with well written, often lyrical prose. The books are sequential, with major plot turning events which are difficult to puzzle out if read out of order, so it would be much better read as part of the series. If binge reading the entire series from the start, readers should be aware that the author has a real thing for appalling "cliff-hanger" endings. I generally feel put out by cliffhangers (especially since there's usually a minimum year wait between series books). This installment's denouement and resolution didn't annoy me at all, which was a relief. It strongly foreshadows future stories in the series which I'm sure will be well written and worth a look.

The unabridged audiobook has a run time of 10 hours and 44 minutes and is capably narrated by Marisa Calin. She has a well modulated voice with a breathy, whispery aspect which suits the writing. I had no trouble at all following what she read. She does struggle somewhat with the character Harley's Scots brogue, but it's not a major problem. The sound and production quality is high throughout the recording. 

It's an easy and fun read. It's more of a YA/NA story, but I enjoyed it very much and am certainly some decades outside the target audience age range. The language is PG with a few "damns" and nothing worse. There are some descriptions of bloodshed and violence, but they're very much in context in the story and not so very graphic. 

Four and a half stars. This is a charming and well written book and series. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Danger at the Cove: An Island Sisters Mystery (Island Sisters Mystery #2)

Danger at the Cove is the second Island Sisters cozy mystery by Hannah Dennison. Released 17th Aug 2021 by Macmillan on their Minotaur imprint, it's 304 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats, it makes it so easy to find info with the search function.

This is a modern cozy set on the Isles of Scilly, off the coast of Cornwall. The author is skilled with settings and the descriptions were clear and easy to imagine. The characters are well drawn, three dimensional and distinct. The author gives more than a passing nod to Christie and other "closed setting" classics of the golden age. I was impressed with the clear and concise writing in this mystery and although I hadn't read the first book in the series, I had no trouble following the plot or keeping everything straight in my mind. There are some minor spoilers (but nothing major) if the books are read out of order. 

I liked the way the clues were hidden throughout the book and not just waved in front of readers' faces. The intertwined mysteries are cleverly constructed and the denouement and resolution are well written and satisfying. I enjoyed this installment enough that I intend to keep an eye out for further books in the series and to go find the series starter on the author's backlist to get "caught up". There's lots of skullduggery, hidden motives, secrets, sunken treasure, shipwrecks, and theft. The descriptions are a little more graphic than the fluffiest of cozy mysteries, but nothing egregious. The language is PG with light cursing, nothing to scandalize. Spelling and vernacular are mostly American English (color, honor, television, etc) and used in context for clarity.

Four stars. This was a thoroughly enjoyable light read. This is a very well written example of the genre. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Murder Most Festive

Murder Most Festive is a modern Golden Age style country house mystery by Ada Moncrieff. Released 12th Oct 2021 by Poisoned Pen Press, it's 288 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately; it makes it so easy to find information with the search function. 

This is a lighthearted historical country house mystery set in 1938 on the cusp of WW2, in Sussex. The author has peopled the scenes with a selection of characters of various backgrounds and levels of wealth, sprinkled in a murder, lots of secrets, and stirred well.

It's banter filled and not always in a good way. It hearkens back to the days of witty repartee drawing room comedies of the stage. I honestly found much of the dialogue forced and found myself (after a while) reading the lines as if they were read by actors in a play which lent a frenetic quality to the banter, but did nothing for the narrative as a whole. Some of the characters frankly irritated me (lookin' at you, Stephen & Lydia), which also cut into my enjoyment.

The mystery, resolution, and denouement are fairly well constructed, if straightforward and heavily foreshadowed. It's the dialogue and relentlessly, almost frenetically, "witty" writing which I found somewhat wearying. I would recommend it to die-hard fans of period mysteries, but this book in particular won't be for all readers. There were also several anachronistic (modern) phrases and constructions which threw my suspension of disbelief out the window.

Three and a half stars. It's a very very light read and will entertain folks who enjoy golden age country house mysteries.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Sky Wolf's Call: The Gift of Indigenous Knowledge

Sky Wolf's Call is a well written, accessible, and respectful examination of the knowledge systems of the indigenous peoples of North America and how they have traditionally passed on knowledge to younger generations. Due out 5th April 2022 from Annick Press, it's 120 pages and will be available in hardcover, paperback, and ebook formats. 

The authors, Dr. Eldon Yellowhorn & Kathy Lowinger, have written clearly and understandably. Although the book is aimed at young/middle school aged readers, I found it both interesting and educational. Potentially unfamiliar terms and names (indigenous, tribes, nations, Indian, Aboriginal, and many more) are defined clearly in context, and the book also contains an abbreviated glossary and index. 

The material is arranged logically and thematically: the systems of passing knowledge (Sky Wolf's call), water knowledge, fire and smoke knowledge and uses, food and food security, healing, celestial physics/navigation/time, keeping and passing on traditional knowledge, and culture and the future. I am so impressed with how meticulously this book is researched and how respectfully written - the bibliography and resource links will provide readers with many hours of further exploration and learning.

The book is very well photographed throughout with lots of facsimile documents, paintings, charts, and objects in addition to the beautiful colour photography of animals, people, gatherings, and landscapes. It would make a superlative choice for public or school library acquisition, classroom use, or for the home library. 

Five stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Enjoying Tequila: A Tasting Guide and Journal

Enjoying Tequila is a sampling guide with customizable journal pages written by Frank Flannery and one volume of a set of similar specialist alcohol tasting instruction tutorials. Due out 12th April 2022 from Quarto on their Voyageur imprint, it's 176 pages and will be available in hardcover and ebook formats. 

The book opens with an introduction and short history of tequila including production methods. The author has an accessible style of writing and despite not having any background in food arts, wine, or cooking, I had no problems understanding what he meant or trouble with the language used. The following chapters provide a good basis for systematically sampling tequila and interpreting what the reader experiences subjectively and writing it down. The specialist language and terminology are defined in context in the text and he does a good job of showing the differences between types of tequila and how to interpret labels. 

There's a good tutorial included for tasting etiquette, serving methods (I never knew that in Mexico, most tequila is served neat and not tossed into margaritas!) and understanding what flavors are being experienced and how to interpret and record them. There are some recipes included for tequila based cocktails for experimentation.

It should be noted that fully half of the page content is a blank tasting journal for recording tasting notes from different tequilas to be filled out as needed by the reader. The pages are identical in the journal section. The book (and journal) are graphically appealing and the book section is full of full color photos with clear text captions. 

This book reminds me a lot of a well organized tasting class given by a knowledgeable and friendly facilitator. This would be a great "warm up" mini-class to get up to speed before an in-person local tasting class. Definitely a niche book, but a useful one, I think. 

Four stars. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Cheddar Off Dead (Cheese Shop Mystery #1)

Cheddar Off Dead is the first book in a small-town shopfront cozy series by Korina Moss. Released 29th March 2022 by Macmillan on their St. Martin's Press imprint, it's 304 pages and is available in mass market paperback, audio, and ebook formats. 

This is a promising start to a comfortable easy-to-read small-town "shopfront" cozy with an appealingly intelligent 30something female protagonist who owns a cheese shop. When an irascibly evil tempered newspaper food critic is found with one of her shop's cheese knives in his neck right after threatening her with a bad review, she turns amateur sleuth to try to clear her name and uncover a murderer. 

As with most cozies, the emphasis is on the characters and the puzzle. The crimes are described off-scene and without being gruesome. The language is clean and there's no sexual content. The subplot threads are skillfully entwined into a satisfying climax and resolution. Although I do confess I figured out "whodunnit" before the end, I still enjoyed the read very much. I'm looking forward to the next installment in the series.

Four stars. Definitely one for shopfront cozy fans. It's full of esoteric cheese minutiae and I found a number of specialty cheeses I'm looking forward to trying.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

How to Design and Apply Automotive and Motorcycle Paint and Graphics: Flames, Pinstripes, Airbrushing, Lettering, Troubleshooting More

How to Design and Apply Automotive and Motorcycle Paint and Graphics is a volume of how-to information in the Motorbooks Workshop series; this one by JoAnn Bortles. Due out 12th April 2022 from Quarto on their Motorbooks imprint, it's 224 pages and will be available in paperback format.

The books in this series are all quite good and comprehensive and cover a myriad of themes, many (most?) of them are technical and aimed at repair and restoration. This one is a little different and has a different aesthetic aimed at artistic finishes for cars, motorcycles, and other surfaces. 

The author is deeply knowledgeable and adept and writes very well and very accessibly. The introduction covers the background basics including fundamental design work and testing designs. The following chapter tutorials follow thematically: tools & supplies, two-tone (prismatic) paint, rally stripes, flames, graphics, retro, lowriders, pinstriping, gold & metal leafing, lettering, patina, plotter stencils, clear coating, and troubleshooting. Tutorials include bullet lists of very specific tools and supplies, descriptions, and well written step by step directions. 

The photography is in a class by itself. The pictorial tutorial photos are crystal clear and beautifully arranged without hands or shadows in the way. This is a very well done book for its intended purpose (teaching readers how to get started with decorative paint and graphics on metal surfaces), but it's honestly worth the price of admission -just- for the drool-worthy photos of gorgeously finished cars, hot rods, muscle cars, vans, and motorcycles. All the photos include captions stating make/model and special info about techniques and materials used.

The author/editors have also included a short resources and links list as well as an abbreviated index.

Five stars. This would make a great choice for public or school library acquisition, home workshop, and a welcome gift for car enthusiasts. The photos are clear and detailed enough that it will also be a good inspiration resource for people thinking about custom paint jobs for their own projects to be able to point and say "something like this" if they're getting custom paint. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.   

The Secret of Glendunny: The Haunting

The Secret of Glendunny: The Haunting is an anthropomorphic fantasy adventure by Kathryn Lasky written for middle grade readers. Released 15th March 2022 by Harper Collins, it's 288 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. 

This is an engaging fast paced character driven fantasy where almost all the characters are animals. There are some human characters (they're mostly scientists looking for the elusive thought-to-be-extinct beavers in the British Isles), but they're sort of intentionally two dimensional and vaguely threatening. The story is told from alternating points of view of the different characters. The author is skilled enough that it's always clear who's speaking and I didn't find myself bogging down in the story or having to flip back and forth to clarify.

The story includes some surprising scenes of battles ancient and modern and descriptions of death (both animals and humans) and skullduggery which is almost Shakespearean in scope. There are also some ghosts who are more or less benevolent in context, but might well be scary for very young and/or sensitive readers. 

The unabridged audiobook version has a run time of 6 hours, 40 minutes and is capably narrated by James Fouhey. He has good range for the scope of the characters, adults and juveniles, animals and humans. I was a bit taken aback that he has an American accent (the story's set in England/Scotland) but after a few minutes I was immersed in the story and didn't notice. He does a very good job delineating the different characters and there are many. Sound & production quality were high throughout.

Four stars. I really loved the pervasive sense of magic and wonder throughout the story. The main characters are well rendered and appealing. This would be a good selection for public or school library acquisition, story time at the library, and home library. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.    

Pleading the Fish (Seaside Café Mystery #7)

Pleading the Fish is the 7th (and seemingly final) book in the Seaside Café cozy mystery series by Bree Baker. Released 29th March 2022 by Poisoned Pen Press, it's 336 pages and is available in mass market paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

This is an engaging and well written small town cozy with a female  protagonist (complete with potentially slightly magical seagull and cat, requisite handsome lawman romantic interest, and wise aunties dispensing advice and sweet tea (it's a southern thing) with equal abandon). The pool of suspects is small, and although the denouement and resolution are fairly easy to guess beforehand, they're well written and satisfying. It's a fast and very easy read - light cozy mystery and quite entertaining. The language is squeaky clean and there's no graphic gore or sexual content. 

The authors have provided an extended epilogue at the end of the book which ties up loose ends and gives a look at the future for the cast of characters. Although it's self-contained, since it's the last book in the series, it will spoil the endings for all of the characters if read out of order. 

Four stars. Entertaining and readable. The authors have included some recipes for sweet treats in the back of the book.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.